November (1 post)

There has never been a more exciting time to be a Queens Park Rangers fan... apart from last season... or perhaps the season before.

Okay, you get the point.

Life is never dull at Loftus Road but just when you thought the Rs might slip quietly from the Premier League, up pops their owner, Tony Fernandes, with a double transfer whammy to raise expectations of a great escape.

French fancy: can Remy make an instant impact at Loftus Road?

Loic Remy has fled from France for a relegation battle he may be unable to win, while compatriot Yann M'Vila is seemingly on the verge of doing the same.

Two talents much talked about in European football cast into the cut and thrust of the Premier League where they'll be expected to make an instant impact. It's high-stakes poker, risk and reward not just for the club they're joining but for the players, too.

It's potentially the biggest transfer coup since Tevez and Mascherano pitched up at West Ham and we know how that narrative ended.

Potentially, it's the biggest transfer coup since Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano pitched up at West Ham and we know how that narrative ended.

Protected

Remy seemed set for Newcastle before an about turn, and while the Toon are briefing QPR's wage offer had blown them out of the water, the Rs say privately the player was persuaded by a relegation release clause.

Let's hope they're protected, too.

With a wage bill teetering upon the unmanageable, the fans rejoicing the new arrivals should also be cheering every player that departs, but removing high earners from the payroll may be more problematic than persuading others to join.

Their summer spending spree may go down as one of the least successful in Premier League history as the squad built by Mark Hughes amassed just four points from their first 13 games. Redknapp has collected 10 from 9 games since, a great improvement, but still nowhere near the average points haul they will need for salvation.

His rebuilt side have a mammoth task ahead to stay afloat but should QPR pull off mission impossible they would have one man to thank above all others. The man who had the vision, audacity and ambition to make it happen: Harry Houdini.

QPR will be among the talking points on The FF Show this week with former Rs caretaker manager and player Gareth Ainsworth, Matt Holland and Davie Provan.